Sacred Heart's Cardiac Lab Proposal Clears Another Hurdle

Sacred Heart Hospital sailed over another hurdle last night in its bid to establish cardiac catheterization services, despite a recommendation against the proposal.

And, Lehigh Valley Hospital Center's unopposed expansion plan received unanimous support last night from a committee of regional health planners.

Members of the project review committee of Health Systems Council of Eastern Pennsylvania (HSC) appeared convinced that the $664,500 diagnostic laboratory was needed by Sacred Heart and its patients and could save the community money.

"I'm interested in containing costs to industry and the health paying public . . . and it (cardiac catheterization) seems significantly less costly at Sacred Heart. One only hopes patients would go for the less costly procedures," committee member David Childers, a Berks County representative, commented before the 5-to-2 vote in favor of the project.

HSC Deputy Director James Brush recommended disapproval on the basis a new lab would duplicate services provided at existing, area labs, which are not being used to capacity. He said that whatever hardships Sacred Heart in- patients faced while waiting for the service at other hospitals would probably be eliminated when a third, already-approved lab opens at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center.

Sacred Heart Planning Director Kenneth Beckelman, however, said the community stood to save an estimated $250,000 during the first year of service if Sacred Heart patients no longer need to be transported, re-evaluated and charged more at other institutions.

He and eight physicians, including cardiac surgeons from Lehigh Valley and St. Luke's, also told how patient anxiety and physical condition were worsened because of a two-to-five day delay in catheterization services and the transfer process.

A new development in the hospital's favor was a letter of support from the hospital center, noting it would provide emergency open heart surgery for Sacred Heart patients if needed.

The letter was not enough, however, to change the opinion of Charles MacKay, president of the Lehigh Valley Business Conference on Health Care, who voiced the only public comment in reserved opposition to the Sacred Heart project.

Although sympathetic to the hospital's need to provide comprehensive services in an increasinglycompetitive industry, the Business Conference board urged disapproval because of current professional recommendations that hospitals providing catheterization should have "immediate access" to surgery if needed, according to MacKay.

Lehigh Valley Hospital Center's $10-million project involved the construction of a two-story, 55,000-square-foot west wing for non-clinical services, including administration, dietary services and education. It also involves the renovation of 37,000 square feet within the hospital to ease the space shortage in patient-care units.

Presented by Vice President Edward Hindin as a solution to the facility's needs for growth and development, educational space and the elimination of off-site or other rented space, the proposal represented the hospital center's third attempt at expansion in two years. Previous proposals were withdrawn before a regional review.

Speaking on behalf of the Business Conference, MacKay recommended the project's endorsement.

The project review committee was the second of three HSC panels to review the proposals. HSC's Lehigh County sub-area council last week unanimously approved the two.

HSC's board of directors will review the projects at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Mack Trucks auditorium to consider previous committee action and make recommendations to be used by the state health department.